The national disease control centre said Friday 48 deaths have been reported in Germany, up from 47 a day earlier. One death in Sweden and another in the United States are linked to the outbreak, according to the World Health Organisation.

A total of 3,999 people have now been reported ill in Germany, including 845 suffering from a complication that can lead to kidney failure. Another 122 cases have been reported in 16 other countries.

New infections have been declining for weeks but the total tally is still rising due largely to delays in notification.

European health experts warned yesterday that contaminated Egyptian fenugreek seeds are likely the source of the deadly outbreak.